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How to Keep Your Dog Hydrated in Warm Weather
Enjoying warm weather with your best friend is one of the true joys of owning a dog. Yet as
you take advantage of the summer's sunshine to go on long walks and frolic in the park, it's
important to keep your dog's health in mind. You may automatically take a water bottle along
when you head out for a walk, but remember that your dog will need to stay hydrated too. To
ensure that your dog is cool and hydrated during the summer, keep the following tips in
mind:
Always Carry Fresh Water Outside
Dogs can go through a surprising amount of water at times, demolishing a fresh bowl in what
seems like seconds! Keep this in mind as you prepare for a day of sun and fun. It's a good
idea to offer your dog some water before you even leave the house. Use the tap or home
water cooler
to fill up several empty bottles, so that you are sure to bring along an adequate
supply of water for both you and your dog. If you're going hiking, you may find that the trails
will offer water stations, but don't count on this if you're not sure.
Keep Multiple Sources of Fresh Water at Home
If you prefer to stay indoors when the heat gets to be too much, you may find that it's easy to
provide water stations around the house for your dogs. This ensures that they always have a
source of fresh water, even if one has been emptied. Bowls can easily get knocked over when
dogs are playing, so keeping a few backup sources of water can make sure there's always
more when they need it. Your dog will drink when he needs to, so don't worry about trying to
force him to drink.
Add Ice Cubes to Dog's Water
Some dogs love chomping on ice cubes, which can help keep them hydrated. Adding a few
ice cubes to bowls of water will help keep the drinking water cool throughout the day.
Otherwise, after a few hours in the sun, what was once cool water could seem more like it
came straight from a
hot water tap kitchen
source! One thing to keep in mind is that cold
water can shock the system after exercise, so it's best to offer cool fresh water rather than ice
water after playing.
Limit Sun Exposure
As you walk your dog on a warm day, try to stick to the shade and avoid going out during the
hottest hours of the day. The hours between 10 am and 2 pm are when the sun is at its hottest,
so it's better to take morning or early evening walks.
Take Care when Swimming
Small paddling pools can help your dog cool down, and many dogs love the water. Be sure to
supervise your dog in the water even if he's a strong swimmer, and choose a pool that's
shallow enough so that he can get out easily.
These are just a few ways to keep your dog cool and hydrated while having fun in the sun.
Finally, remember to never leave your dog in the car. The inside of a car can easily reach
dangerous oven-like conditions on hot days.
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